THE Confederation of Sugar Producers (Confed) Negros-Panay Chapter is urging their planter-members to hasten the processing of documentary permits for sugar migrant workers in light of the recent memorandum issued by Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao.
Its chairman Nicolas Ledesma Jr., in a statement, said with barely two weeks to go "we need to speed things up so the migrant workers will be in Negros Occidental at the start of the milling season."
The milling season will start in September this year.
Cadiao's Memorandum Order No. 68 provides additional requirement for transporting migrant workers to the province aside from that issued by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
"As such, if we want no delays in the start of the milling season, everyone must comply with the guidelines set by both governor," he added.
The memorandum was already forwarded by Sugar Regulatory Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica for compliance of all planters' groups who are in need of sugar migrant workers.
About 3,000 to 6,000 "sacadas" or sugarcane workers are expected to travel to the province in a couple of weeks.
Millers' representatives are asked to comply with the list of requirements by August 20 for the issuance of a provincial identification card (ID).
This will also give time for the issuance of a certificate of acceptance from Lacson.
All workers must also submit their birth certificates which will be forwarded to the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) to ensure that no minors will be included in the list of migrant workers.
Also, the memorandum requires submission of the mayor's permit, police clearance, and a medical certificate duly signed by a government physician for the worker to be given a certificate to travel by their respective municipal employment and services office.
Ledesma expressed hopes that by then, all sugar farms will have their respective quarantine facilities for the migrant workers and ready for the logistical needs of migrant workers during their travel and stay in Negros Occidental.
As required by the governor, all migrant workers will be tested as soon as they enter Negros Occidental.
They will immediately be quarantined in their respective workplaces until their results are out. Those who are enrolled in Philhealth will have their tests shouldered by the government.
Lacson has declared a "No ID, No Entry" policy for sugar migrant workers which was concurred by Cadiao.